Shloka 12

संध्यायाः शुद्धिः सूर्यलोकप्रवेशश्च — Purification of Sandhyā and Her Entry into the Solar Sphere

Devanagari script

अस्तं गते ततः सूर्य्ये शोणपद्मनिभे सदा । उदेति सायं संध्यापि पितॄणां मोदकारिणी

Transliteration

astaṃ gate tataḥ sūryye śoṇapadmanibhe sadā | udeti sāyaṃ saṃdhyāpi pitṝṇāṃ modakāriṇī

Translation

When the sun—ever like a red lotus—has set, the evening twilight (sandhyā) arises; it becomes a source of gladness for the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits).

Word by Word

• अस्तम्: to setting (to the west)
• अस्तम्: Gati-Karma (गति-कर्म/Goal in motion idiom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-प्राय प्रयोग (astaṃ gam- ‘to set’)

• गते: when (it) has gone
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locative condition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सूर्ये इत्यस्य विशेषण (locative absolute-like)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (देश-काल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रभव)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सूर्ये: when the sun
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शोणपद्मनिभे: (being) like a red lotus
• शोणपद्मनिभे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोण + पद्म + निभ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सूर्ये)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (काल/Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• उदेति: rises/appears
• उदेति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु) + उद्- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सायम्: in the evening
• सायम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सायम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in the evening)

• संध्या: the twilight (Sandhyā)
• संध्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (also/even)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मोदकारिणी: causing joy
• मोदकारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोद + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying संध्या)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Evening sandhyā-time is portrayed as auspicious for pitṛ-tarpaṇa; in Śaiva Siddhānta this supports nitya/naimittika karma that stabilizes dharma and purifies the paśu’s mala-s (especially karma-mala), preparing fitness for Śiva-anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Sunset; arising of sāyaṃ-sandhyā.

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Surya

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights sandhyā (twilight) as a sacred junction of time that supports dharma: worship and remembrance performed then are subtle offerings that bring peace and joy to the Pitṛs, aligning the practitioner with cosmic order under Shiva’s governance.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Sandhyā is traditionally a prime time for pūjā; offering lamp, water, and mantra at dusk can be directed to Saguna Shiva in the Liṅga, while also dedicating the merit for ancestral well-being—integrating devotion (bhakti) with dharmic duty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform evening sandhyā practices: quiet japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), lighting a dīpa, and if appropriate, pitṛ-tarpaṇa with water—offering the act to Lord Shiva as Pati, the Lord who uplifts all beings.